Microsoft is a software company. They've spent the last 30 years confusing themselves into thinking they're a 'platform company.'

That's nice and all, but it's not the only way. I sure hope this is a sign to come. I'd like to see Microsoft succeed and I think it will happen like this...by becoming the dominant software provider on OTHER platforms. They've been allergic to that in the past because they wanted to protect Windows, but those days are over. I'd love to see them branch out more.

It could look like a strategic move, but then again why would you switch from iOS to Windows Phone if they offer the same apps on both. Yes, they could make you "like" Microsoft again but that's not enough to switch your whole ecosystem if there is no true reason of switching.

It would make more sense to keep the Windows Phone games exclusive and come up while lots of mobile versions of Xbox games, like Halo, Gears of War, Forza, Fable etc. that could compensate by their quality for the small number of games/apps on Windows Phone compared to iOS and Android. That could make a gamer choose a Windows Phone, especially with Xbox Live integration.

They'll make you realize the neatness of the Xbox integration, then make provide an even better experience once you switch over to the MSFT-side of the river. Simple as that.

Even if they sell 10 million copies of this at $3 each this is pocket change for Microsoft. Clearly, I think their goal is not to make money. I think maybe they want to train their staff ad this just covers the cost. They did this for some reason and it was not to make money.

It's about a $25 Mil profit. Whilst its nowhere near the levels on anything else they have, it'll be a good start. Even if it boosts yearly profits by 0.1% it'll make the shareholders happy.

This is wonderful. The description for Kinectimals says it unlocks content on the 360. Microsoft is rewarding people for buying their products (regardless of platform) - instead of punishing them for not buying only their products.

There are over a dozen Microsoft programs for iOS now. I'm looking forward to more.

I'm impressed. It seems like Microsoft is finally behaving as a real software company and it is focusing its efforts on good things. However, I wonder if releasing games on iOS will hurt their Windows Phone project. One would expect that games by Microsoft would be a WP exclusive.

Looking into that tiger's eyes one cannot ignore the deep hatred and resentment for it's owner that is present. It is more than happy to do tricks and obey the commands because it knows that one day the tables will turn in the struggle of control and life span.

It's likely an acknowledgement that many XBox gamers are also iOS users. Microsoft could either ignore them or embrace them. XBox tie-ins are a way to do the latter.

This

It's similar to Apple putting iTunes on Windows. Helps sell hardware/media. MS isn't dumb enough to think that all iOS users will switch to WP7/8. But if you make it easier for iOS users to integrate w/ Xbox, MS sells more hardware/media.

Microsoft is a software company. They've spent the last 30 years confusing themselves into thinking they're a 'platform company.'

That's nice and all, but it's not the only way. I sure hope this is a sign to come. I'd like to see Microsoft succeed and I think it will happen like this...by becoming the dominant software provider on OTHER platforms. They've been allergic to that in the past because they wanted to protect Windows, but those days are over. I'd love to see them branch out more.

Microsoft has been somewhat rudderless since the dancing monkey's been in charge. However, by supporting iOS Microsoft is doing two things:
1. Making their gaming platform stronger. They see iOS as a stable platform with a strong future, and therefore worth supporting. That vs. Android which is highly fractured and hard to support in a quality way. Keep in mind that a bad experience on a phone as a controller reflects badly on the XBox as well.
2. Making iOS-driven devices stronger. Stronger iOS devices mean weaker Android market, therefore a less-crowded opening for the MS mobile/metro OS whenever that straggles to market...

You may remember that initially Microsoft envisioned the PC being the center of the home entertainment stage, by releasing the XBox they signaled defeat of the PC-cetric strategy. Supporting iOS is further hardening the XBox-cetric strategy.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by PhoneI

now give me Office on my iPad and onenote on my MacBook and I am set.

OneNote on the MacBook is already on the market. Office in the iOS devices is on the horizon.

Looking into that tiger's eyes one cannot ignore the deep hatred and resentment for it's owner that is present. It is more than happy to do tricks and obey the commands because it knows that one day the tables will turn in the struggle of control and life span.

Maybe I'm too much of a cynic, but we've seen this many times in the past from MS. We start out with feature parity, and a few versions later, all non-MS platform versions are lagging behind, with MS citing technical shortcomings (read proprietary MS code disallowed to be ported to other platforms)
Windows Phone will get the full version, of course.

first a cute Tiger, perhaps followed by an adorable Leopard, then a Snow Leopard that needs your care, perhaps followed by a Lion? I'd half expected a rant about how Microsoft was only doing this to start a chain of games that were condescending to the Mac OS animals!

With Microsoft being a software company, Apple being a hardware company, and Google being an internet company, and all of them having their own OSes, the tech world is much more integrated (not fragmented) than before.

Believe it or not, I think Microsoft will team up with Apple to fight against Android, with the release of Microsoft Office for iOS.